A/N: Hello once again, Denizens of the FanFiction Realm!

There will be normal postings next week, but NO postings the week after that as I will be out of town.

Symbols Guide:

* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei
3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Toriko/Shikiyoku and Youko/Kurama
~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.

As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.
Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.
[Anything written in italics inside square brackets is Youko speaking to Shuichi/Kurama inside their mind and is private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.]{Anything written in italics inside curly brackets is inner dialogue by Shuichi/Kurama to Youko, and is also private conversation, unable to be picked up by telepathy.}
"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."

The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).
The above rule also applies to Akari's old friend Isamu in this chapter.

Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!

As dawn breaks over the horizon, Kitoushi is able to regain his humanoid form,
and he kisses Shikiyoku as she is sleeping next to him to change her back.

Hiei's eyes open to see Kit pulling away and Shikiyoku turning to face the cat demon in her sleep,
and as he leaves, feeling his duty to be done,
Kit informs him that he has never seen Shikiyoku smile at anyone like she smiles at the fire demon.

Failing to see how it matters, as he has been given to reason to believe he is a part of 'this whole Consort thing,'
Hiei leaves.

~!**!~

After running around in the meadow for butterflies with Nabu,
Kurama returns to Akari to sit next to her and enjoy the other dog's enthusiasm.

Kurama gifts Akari with a flower known as 'Hope' disguised as a bejeweled bracelet,
telling her that when all else is lost she can eat a petal from the flower and it will restore her, mind, body, and soul.

Night falls and Nabu exclaims wildly about the blooming flowers in the meadow,
returning to Akari and Kurama to lay down with them.

Eventually the three fall asleep, and in the morning Akari watches as Isamu's shadow mark disappears.
Youko wakes Kurama to remind him that the fox has places to be, and Kurama, Akari, and Nabu part ways,
Kurama shifting to Youko to find Shikiyoku, Akari leaving for the Seventh Layer in search of Isamu,
and Nabu getting sent back to Akari's home on the First Layer so he can keep sleeping.

While Youko successfully encroaches on Kitoushi cuddling with a sleeping Shikiyoku-
even going so far as to get the cat to leave the room as she wakes up-Akari is stuck slouching through a swamp looking for Isa...

Akari noted silence, which wasn't odd for this area. Except that here, it was near nightfall, and there were no… no frogs beginning to croak. Overgrown, disgusting, wart-covered demon frogs, but frogs nonetheless. And they were absent.

She moved forward, entering a dense area of more trees and swamp that she really, really didn't want to wade through. So she looked up, and frowned at the trees. Trees that moved on no wind whatsoever. That swayed with their own pulsating energy. She'd begun to pull a shadow towards herself when one of those trees reacted, throwing a long branch in her direction and sweeping her from the ground, holding her up by her ankles in the air and causing the muck on her pants to roll towards her face.

It took everything in her power not to panic, especially when she saw just how high up in the air she was. "Hey uh, Isamu. I know you can hear my and all, so I'm curious. What in the name of sanity's sake are you doing on this layer?"

There was no reply for a while, until a demon dropped to the ground, looking up at her with shining grey eyes. "Me forest-"

"Yes, yes. Cut the crap. I know your lingo. You want a deal."

"Ah, the lady knows thy ways."

"And I also know that's not how you really talk." She pulled herself up, both hands holding onto the branch that held her so that the blood would stop rushing to her head. "What do you want?"

"For you, the dame?"

Akari gave a scoff. "No, for the pretty lady down the lane."

"Ah, a wise one, hm?" There was a pause. "Why are you here?"

Akari let herself fall again so that she may glare at the little winged creature below. His expression was stoic, his hair a tangled mess that was tied back, his skin taut as if he hadn't eaten enough as of late. "Answer my question first, dear, and we'll see about a deal."

"Ah, lingo of the dogs on the fourth." He shrugged and waved a hand. "You have nothing to offer me."

Akari's grin was wide. "I have plenty. All you do is ask. Of course, that also means I should be able to shake on it, yes?"

"And have ground control?"

"You're not so dumb as to think we move lands? Otherwise, how would I be here?"

"Through trickery and deceit. Is all your kind is."

"Poor little baby." Akari's energy slowly began to roil. "Too bad. I could've given you whatever you needed. But I suppose your swamp will die along with its fairy overseer." The shadows began to concave around her, and the creature shouted out a strangled sound, pausing her. She gave a raised brow. "Change your mind, Darling?"

"My people are in need of fresh water."

"And what happened to your working fairies who do that for you?"

"Killed."

Akari hummed. "I know of a land, but I'm quite sure being strung in a tree will do you no good."

The demon fidgeted, sharp teeth gnashing together in contemplation. He wrung his hands together.

"Tic, toc. I'm on a schedule."

"And all you want in return is to be let down?"

"Did I ever say that?"

"What else, dame?"

"Information. A demon passed by here. Another dog demon. Do you know why?"

"Of course. Trade down the river. He visits once every few cycles."

"Good. Release me." She dropped to the ground, landing on her bare feet easily in front of the demon.

"Now, our deal?"

Akari raised a brow and a grin grew on her features. "Silly thing." She sighed. "It's on the opposite side of this layer."

"Take me."

Akari held up a finger. "Uh-uh. Not part of our deal. And you're lucky I'm not the demon I used to be, because otherwise I wouldn't have even given you that. Now, excuse me, little swamp fairy." Akari disappeared into the shadow world, appearing again several miles away from the swamp. *

~!**!~

Youko could feel the stiffness in the demon he held, in how she had her hands pressed against his chest between them, attempting to push him away even as he leaned closer, smiling when his lips were inches from her own.

"Oo," He murmured at the fire in her eyes, "Playing hard-to-get. How the tables have turned, seductress."

"I don't think I like it." She informed him readily.

"I don't believe you."

She arched an eyebrow at his immediate rebuttal.

"After all those years of you chasing me, I ought to know better than anyone that in truth you simply wish for someone to chase after you." He hadn't moved closer, but neither had he moved away, his words whispered and passing over her lips as so much warm breath. "That is what made it so exciting, was it not? Once you finally succeeded in enrapturing me completely, only to end up the prey instead of the predator?"

"Took long enough." She grumbled.

He didn't miss how the edges of her lips twitched when she spoke, and neither did he miss that she did not have her hands pushing quite so hard at his chest to get him away anymore.

"Had I realized from the start that entangling myself with you only increased our powers, I assure you I would have let it happen sooner."

"Still calculating." Shikiyoku noted, looking into his eyes. "If not as...cold." This time she did give him a small smile.

Sometime in the middle of their exchange, they had ended up laying back on the First Layer in Shikiyoku's bed.

Youko turned so he could shoot a glance over his shoulder at the rest of the room.

"Is he gone?" The quick scan confirmed his question.

When he turned back to Shikiyoku, now laying on top of the covers with him since they had blurred between the layers and came back over the bed, he gathered her unceremoniously in his arms, pleased when she readily wrapped her own about him in return.

He rested his cheek on top of her head.

"I missed you." He gave her a brief squeeze.

Shikiyoku let out a scoff Youko knew she didn't mean given how her hold on him tightened just as much as his.

"You only missed me because now you might have me again." Shikiyoku pointed out.

"Is there anything at all wrong with that?"

She didn't answer.

"Yoku?" He tried to pull away to look at her, but she didn't let him and he started to grin.

"I'm thinking." 3

~!**!~

Akari traveled for a few hours before she came close to a spot where she could hear the bed of the river nearby, could hear voices growling in low tones at once another. She stood in the shadows, arms crossed as the sounds of fighting began- or maybe resumed?- and the growling grew louder, though the words uttered remained unheard even by her sharp hearing.

Of course.

She glanced over her shoulder and offered a smile to the other demon waiting in the darkness, who blinked once at her relaxed form. Unlike the other, Akari was leaning lazily against the bark of a tree, one ankle crossed over the other and her arms crossed over her stomach. HEr eyes flashed in the darkness of this area, earning a sound from the other demon.

He held weapons upon his person. Weapons of all kinds and all sizes. His eyes were serious, his lips pulled into a taut line as he gauged her from the few hundred feet between them. His hand twitched and she raised a brow, shaking her head once. 'I'm not here to fight', she mouthed at him, earning an even thinner-lipped scowl. She turned back to watch the fight happening in the opening by the river, Isamu throwing away a female who snarled at him.

"Which party do you pertain?"

Akari turned back to the other with a raised brow, quickly guarding her mind. "My own," she replied silently, to which he glared.

"Do not get in my way."

"Do not get in mine, mercenary."

The sounds in the clearing came to a sudden halt, and Isamu was suddenly standing to her right, blades in each hand and a warning glare. "You are to leave. Tell the family of this one I have died."

The other raised a brow, and Akari sighed.

"Isa, you're causing trouble again… why?"

"You'd know if you'd visit home."

"I think it's just you."

"Why are you here, love?"

"Why are you?"

The demon who stood on the side seemed to deem the situation unfavorable, sheathing his own blade and turning to leave without a word.

Isamu turned to glare down at her, crossing his blades and hiding them in his sheaths below the furs. "You're aware that you wer-"

"conversing with a mercenary? Yes. Quite friendly, might I say."

"And you… trekked the swamps?"

"Yes, because you're a moron for being on this layer. You know they have nothing to offer just as much as I do. Their money is coveted by some king or another on the opposite end of the layer. Their lands are dying, and their valuable resources are… useless to the pack. So, why are you really here, hm?"

Isamu reached a hand out and pat her head twice. "I had an old score to settle."

"And killing her was the answer?"

"It's always the answer, yes?"

Akari waved a hand. "Shut up and get going. Nabu's waiting and probably hungry."

"Ah, so you do actually want me around?"

"No, I want to solve this stupid puzzle you seem to know about. So you're coming along to help."

"And if I refuse?"

"I'm sure you won't refuse for long. After all, deal making is my specialty." *

~!**!~

"Is this what you do for fun nowadays, cuz?" Youko leaned with his arms up against the back of the couch, his eyes taking in the moving pictures on the TV screen in an almost bored manner.

Kit blinked, pulling himself out of his almost meditative state and coming into the awareness that the question had been aimed at him in an obviously too long amount of time for Youko not to send him a searching glance.

The accusing question in Youko's eyes was cut short by Shikiyoku coming down the stairs.

"I certainly hope wherever you had in mind to take me is worth it, Yo-chan."

Youko found himself casting one last suspicious glance in Kit's direction before turning away to watch her walking towards him.

"When have I ever steered you wrong, my seductress?"

"Are you wanting an exact number, or would you prefer I lay out each situation in detail?" She teased. 3

~!**!~

Akari and Isamu had both left the Seventh Layer, and were now within the walls of Akari's home. Nabu sat at Akari's feet as she poured batter into the pan, his eyes not on her, but on the form hunched over the coffee table in the next room.

"How long is he staying?"

Akari gave a shrug. "As long as necessary I suppose. He knows about the relics, as I'm sure you've gathered. And I'm at a standstill with them."

"...Why didn't you just ask Kurama last night?"

"Because he and Youko have their own agenda. Why would I waste their time when I have someone completely willing-"

"I don't exactly believe willing is the word, love. It's not far, but not exactly right." Isamu's voice carried throughout the house easily, even at his low tone. "And if you don't hold up your end of the deal, just know I'll make you."

"Yes, I'm aware. Two days isn't near as bad. And it won't be a problem, because I won't be welcomed back."

"You didn't?"

"Nabu, it's just two days. And on that layer, it will go by so quick you won't even know I'm gone." She flipped the pancake over in the pan, the sound of the fresh batter hitting the heated surface filling the room for a moment. And in that moment she was turned inward, thinking on the odd feeling of the beginnings of the ties of energy within her that she'd begun to feel earlier. All because she'd gotten worried and tracked him down.

Great. Another way for him to keep up with me.

On the other hand, she didn't mind knowing he was okay. At least, in the time he was supposed to be within her company, she didn't mind it. But still, it was unnerving just how quickly the pack-like bond had formed.

"You're missing two relics, love."

"Only two? That'll be easy then."

"We can start looking today, if you wish."

Akari lifted the pancake and placed it on a plate, covered it in syrup, and turned to meander into the living area, extending the plate in Isamu's direction once she stood over him. "And where exactly would we start looking?"

"The places you haven't visited yet." He took the plate from her and set it on the coffee table, a curious brow raised. "You never told me how you found exactly where I was. It should've taken you much longer than that to hunt me down on foot since you went through the swamp."

"I ran into a little swamp fairy. With his request, I sent him South-West."

"Towards the kingdom? Why?"

"Fresh water. Apparently their worker fairies have been targeted recently."

"You realize the lands of the king wouldn't allow them within the proximity of their land."

"Yes, but that was never a question posed."

There was a moment where Isamu merely blinked at her. And then his lips grew into a wolfish grin and his eyes lit up. "There's the girl I know. Instead of killing him yourself, you sent him to his own death."

"Well, technically, there's no guarantee he'll die. I just needed to be able to get away without his tree stopping me again." She turned and sauntered back into the kitchen, a hand clasping around the handle of the pan while the other lifted the measuring cup to pour more batter into the cooking pan. "Plus, I didn't really wish for him to die. I'd simply forgotten the kingdom was there. It wasn't as expanded then."

"Love, it's been huge for centuries."

"Yes, but the lake was never owned by the king when I was still working as a tradeswoman. When exactly did that come about?"

"The same year you disappeared."

"That explains why I wouldn't know."

"The first place we'll look, by the way, is actually just across town. I'm sure you've seen it, but the building only recently became littered with these markings. We'll have to be smart, because the owner of that pub isn't very nice about people snooping around."

"I see no reason to worry. We can handle a few low-class demons, I'm sure." *

~!**!~

"So, was it worth it, seductress?" Youko shifted his eyes so that he might see the some of Shikiyoku's dark hair, able to make out part of her profile as well.

They lay on their backs in his meadow, his arms bent and his hands behind his head propping him up, and her head resting partially on his chest.

Her eyes slid open to watch the clouds go by for a moment.

"Ehhhh-" She intoned, her shoulders lifting as if to emphasize the indifferent noise, after which she rose up off of him to turn and lay down on her side a few feet away to hide her smile, her cheek brushing against the grass which almost felt like heather against her skin and her fingers in turn fiddling with what she knew was the closed bud of some flower or another.

Youko growled at her and immediately rolled over on his side facing her, making no hesitation in grabbing for and pulling her back, which she allowed, but did not give him the satisfaction of responding to.

"Why are you making this so difficult?" He grumbled good-naturedly into her hair.

"Because if it weren't a challenge, you would get terribly bored of the whole ordeal." Shikiyoku replied loftily, easily extricating herself from his arms and sitting up, plucking one of the buds from the meadow and twirling it curiously between her fingertips.

"You're no fun." He mumbled.

"On the contrary, Yo-chan, I'm too much fun. Which is why I'm going to continue to ignore you and you're going to continue to pursue me."

"And to think I'd forgotten how exceedingly trying you were."

"Are." She corrected. "And you always seemed to think it was part of my charm." 3

~!**!~

Silence filled the house for a moment as Akari slid her own pancake onto a plate, not bothering to add syrup, but instead finding the fruits in her refrigerator and using those to top her breakfast. Nabu blinked at her from where he sat on the floor, watching her walk to the next room with a fork in one hand and a plate in the other. "No bacon this time?"

"I don't have any, otherwise I would have cooked some for you."

"Dang."

Akari sat on the floor opposite of Isamu, her eyes watching him as he toyed with the bricks and rocks, moving them around and around in different orders by marking until he sat back and gave a frown, mouth full of pancake. He considered for a moment before making a sound and leaning forward again, switching two bricks in the circle he'd made.

Akari chewed on blueberries and blinked at the circle of markings, feeling a sort of buzzing energy seeping into the air. "Hey, I don't want my house to be on all the layers."

"Just an experiment, love." He again swapped a few bricks and rocks here and there, earning more of the buzzing energy and a small pulse of that sent even more of the energy into the room. By the time he sat back and took to only staring at the markings, each one was aglow and a broken, almost dotted line had formed in the circle. Occasionally, another pulse of energy moved through the air, but she felt no actual change in the atmosphere.

Isamu suddenly pulled one of the bricks out of the circle and set it aside, breaking the energy altogether.

"That's what you're doing?"

Isamu looked up at the dog with a curious stare. "Yep. Put the marks in the right order, and you can make any building exist on any layer you want. Even if that meant every layer simultaneously. It's all about how you order the enchanted pieces, though. Mix it in different ways, and you can control which layer to exist on. The reason nothing changed here is because it doesn't have enough energy like this to move the building to another layer. It's broken up, and a wonder that any of the buildings you two visited even existed on this layer, much less all of them."

"Then why scatter the different marks among different buildings?"

"Several reasons. I can't give you a good one, however, since you've already taken the bricks and such from their respective places. However," the demon shoved his fork in his mouth and chewed on his last bite, "When we go look a' other placesh," he swallowed, "I might be able to deduce what's going on in the other's head."

Akari raised a brow. "It's entirely likely they're trying to make a certain area exist on all layers."

"Yes, that could be one case. But why would they do that, exactly?"

"You're asking a simple dog demon who has her own agenda why another would want to work on such a project?" She tilted her head at him, then gave a shrug. "If I knew the answer, I wouldn't need your help in finding the rest of the puzzle, because I'd know who's behind it."

"Fair enough, I suppose." Akari tossed a blueberry at him, which he easily caught and tossed into his mouth. "How do you plan, exactly, to use this tool you're procuring?"

"As I said, I have my own agenda. And you're not exactly qualified enough to be in on it."

"And yet you're asking my assistance. Demanding, really."

"You weren't exactly going to tell me no. Don't act like you hate it."

"Assuming, love, is a reckless thing to do and a horrible habit to break."

"It's not assuming if I know the subject I'm speaking of."

"You guys give me a headache. I'm going to the park." *

~!**!~

Youko made a noise of frustration at her, having not moved from where he lay on his side, though he did reach over with his free hand to where some of her long, dark hair rested on her leg, burying that hand most delightfully in its silkiness and absently winding the strands about his fingers.

"I have always absolutely loathed how intelligent you are."

"Do go on." Shikiyoku responded with mild amusement.

"My kind are supposed to be the masters of seduction, and yet you always seem to know exactly what to say to make me want you that much more. You don't play fair."

"I'll play 'fair' just as soon as you start playing fair...kitsune."

Youko made a face. 3

~!**!~

Akari turned to watch Nabu sling towards the door, which she'd left ajar for this purpose. It was a habit she'd gotten into some time ago, and it made things easier for the both of them. "If you want, I'll buy bacon for later."

"Sounds good to me." the dog replied before he was out of sight, his claws calmly clicking on the sidewalk outside.

"He's an interesting one. How'd you happen across him?"

"You know, I'm not really sure." Akari admitted with a shrug. "When he was a pup, he just started following me. It's a wonder, because I wasn't very kind to anyone around that time."

There was a pause as Akari continued eating and Isamu sat back, staring at her with an unreadable expression. He leaned back with both palms on the wooden floor, his eyes watching her with the gears behind them turning.

"What?" she finally grumbled at him. "You're staring."

"What exactly did happen, love? What made you suddenly decide to be a fighter? I mean, the scars say enough, but you never did actually enjoy the kill. What changed that?"

Akari raised a brow. "I don't enjoy the kill now, either."

"I don't exactly think that's the truth, love."

Akari swallowed and shrugged once. "I don't kill as readily as you seem to think I do. In fact…" she paused, a head tilted, "The only person I've killed in two years was going to die anyway." I'm not very happy with that one either. How he'd brainwashed me into killing another human, I'll never know. She paused. "Actually, I take it back. I've killed quite a few demons since then. Granted, one rather enjoyed throwing me into the wall and the other liked trying to smash me with his tail. Or was it hooves?" She made a sound, unable to remember. "It was a group of demons hiding in this world that were eating humans. Kurama and I dealt with them."

"And you enjoyed it?"

Akari made a small sound of consideration. "Perhaps. But keep in mind I was thrown around repeatedly, and backed into a corner. Also, he was without energy at the time and-"

"How did that come about? A fox without energy?"

"Long story short: a demon was extremely capable at hiding energies, or binding them within the person. Quite the handful, he and his partners in crime. Never did catch them, really."

"That's too bad."

Akari suddenly stood, both plates in hand. "Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Your slow behind to get going."

"It was rhetorical you moron."

"Ah yes, but I do enjoy seeing that expression of irritation. It makes you puff your cheeks out and you gain a little redness too. Like you did when you were a kid."

"Now you're sounding creepy."

"It isn't like I haven't known you since you were born."

"You know, every time you bring that up, I'm going to start hitting you."

"Hitting, or hitting on me? I'd prefer the second, but I guess beggars can't be choosers."

"I am going to murder you one of these days."

"And yet, here I am." *

~!**!~

"Besides," Shikiyoku pointed out, "You're mostly to blame for it anyway."

"Is that so?" Youko sounded as if he had a mixture of skepticism with pride.

Shikiyoku nodded, picking another bud and beginning to weave it with the first one.

"I've since realized that my capabilities as a demon were heavily influenced by my Champions, as was my personality."

Youko's expression turned thoughtful, "Malleable."

"A rather apt descriptor, yes. A gift and a curse that came with the need for protection. With the pact, as it were."

He turned onto his back, staring up at the sky, "From your first you acquired the ability to cast rituals. From your second, you excelled at interrogation." He paused, impish grin coloring his features, "But whatever did you gain from me?"

"I'm not saying it aloud. Your ego and I are already fighting for space in this field. If it expands any larger, there won't be room for all three of us and I'll have to leave."

"Your dazzling wit." Youko provided, earning a scoff from her. "Not to mention your skills in seduction."

"Something that was already being cultivated by your cousin."

"Which is why your pursuit of me already had a head start."

"You tried to resist for the longest time."

"I was afraid of being bewitched by whatever spell seemed to hover about you." Youko admitted. "I was there every single time we gathered intelligence from a victim. I knew that haunted look in a demon's eye when you had finished with them, the one that was only silenced when I had killed them. I didn't particularly want to walk around the base looking like that. Can you imagine what chaos that would have cause among my subordinates?" 3

~!**!~

Akari and Isamu walked around the building slowly, breaking apart and going separate directions as they used to do. Her hands were in the pockets of her jacket, her eyes looking into the window she paused in front of and seeing very few inside. She continued moving, looking for the symbols that should be standing out in the brickwork, and yet finding no such thing. She gave an inaudible sigh and continued around to the back of the building, where Isamu was already standing, shaking his head once at her in negatory.

She gave a nod and turned with purpose, circling back around the building until she was at the front door, to which she simply tossed open and marched inside, holding a hand up to point at Isamu as she addressed the bartender. "See to him, will you? He's getting on my last nerve." She gave a long-suffering sigh. "He's.. special."

Isamu made a loud sound of protest at her. "Don't be like that."

The bartender gave a gruff sound. "I am not a babysitter."

"And yet you tend to hundreds of demons a day. Of course, you'll be paid. Keep him occupied, with drinks, with games, I don't care."

"But Aka, I want to go with you-"

"You're staying here. I have business."

Before the bartender could protest, Akari's energy slid throughout the room, an illusion hitting each denizen that's sole purpose was to make it appear as if she weren't there at all. She smiled to herself and turned a wink onto Isamu. You know what to do.

She turned and moved throughout the room, careful of the patrons and chairs and tables, knowing if she brought any attention to herself, the illusion would fall through.

"So… what'll it be?"

Akari glanced back to see Isamu give an uncertain expression, and then a shrug. "I don't know, a soda?"

Several laughs echoed in the room, and Akari could only grin.

"We don't serve mere sodas here, kid. Get a real drink, or get out."

"I thought soda was real?"

"Hey Iko, tell you what. I'll treat him the first drink, and the rest his keeper can pay for. Assuming she comes back. You know what I like." The demon pat the stool next to him. "Sit here, kid. I'll teach you a thing or two about this world."

Akari had to refuse a scoff as she turned away, her eyes taking to surveying the brickwork again, her feet moving carefully around the room, and even into the back room when no one was paying attention. It had to be here somewhere. She could feel the energy buzzing, could sense that this building existed on at least two layers.

"Why does it taste so bad?!" Isamu's voice rang from the other room, and for a moment even she wasn't sure if he was putting on a facade or not. She ignored him, however, and continued looking about. *

~!**!~

"You were immune to all of that." Shikiyoku informed him.

"Not as thoroughly as you would have had me believe, trust me." Youko replied, "The more time I spent with you, the harder you were to resist."

"You were so concerned about the chaos accepting me might cause..." Shikiyoku finally flopped down next to him on her back with her hair streaming over the meadow behind her head, holding the chain of flowers up as she attached another, "And yet we turned right around and caused more than enough chaos just as soon as you relented."

Her eyes flickered over to him, gleaming mischievously, only to find that he met her gaze with an almost identical expression before he responded.

"Now that...was fun." 3

~!**!~

Akari paused in the center of the room, eyes again roving over each brick, each board that lined the floor, each object in the room. Where is it? She huffed to herself and took another look around, the search just as fruitless as before. She became frustrated and turned to exit the room, pausing when a floorboard creaked. Her entire body went still, knowing the demons in the next room could just as easily pick up the sound if-

"WHY am I getting another? It tastes AWFUL! I don't LIKE it!"

"The poor kid. You've sent him into a fit."

"I said I don't WANT it!"

The amount of whining in the male's tone made it very hard for Akari not to suddenly laugh, but he provided her the opportunity to release the board and turn a glare down at it accusingly. Only to realize it was the only unstable board in the whole facility. She blinked and crouched down to inspect it, her fingers carefully lifting it from its place with ease.

Her eyes widened and she gave a victorious little smile, her hand quickly reaching down to retrieve the object engraved with markings she had yet to see, leaving the rest where they lay and replacing the board firmly. In the next moment, she was standing in the bar again, hands in her jacket pockets and energy releasing the others of their illusion.

Each demon in the room turned to stare at her, even Isamu, who had a very pitiful expression on his face and mock tears in his eyes. He sniffled once, and Akari narrowed her eyes at the male next to her. "What's wrong with him?"

"He didn't like the drinks. He was entertained, though."

"They're awful, Aka. I don't wanna be here no more."

Akari turned a harsh glare onto the demons at the bar. "I was gone for half an hour and he's already upset?" Her energy seeped into the atmosphere, causing shadows to move. "You're all idiots."

"D-don't kill them, Aka. They were just playing!"

She turned to Isamu again, his lips moving with a silent question. She sighed and nodded her head, earning a smile. "Fine. We'll go, per your request. However, I'm not paying for the services. You'll have to see to that on your own."

Isamu stood and moved towards her, the facade dropped entirely now that none of the demons at the bar could see his expression.

"Pleasure doing business, boys."

Akari and Isamu dropped into the shadow realm and reappeared several miles from the pub, the male quickly releasing a laugh. "You've learned a few things, love!"

"As have you." Akari replied calmly, giving a calm smile. "Will this do?" She held up the object and Isamu quickly snatched it up for inspection, before giving a nod. "Yeah, it's sufficient enough. I'm surprised they used a jewel for this one. Usually you enchant useless objects that no one would suspect to be worth anything. Not your prized possessions."

"They're on the First Layer. What do you expect?"

"Too much, apparently." He returned the gem yo her and turned, walking calmly in the direction they'd been facing. "Next one is a warehouse. It would be easier to look at from the Fourth Layer, but this layer will do. Though, finding the item will be fun, considering it's a building made completely of concrete."

"I've learned that the person using this method likes to hide things in the dirt on cases like that. If he can't hide it within the floors or the walls, then he hides it under a rock, so to speak."

"Ah, yes. Digging up another demon's lawn. Should we change forms for that or-"

"You can. I, however, prefer this form. I rather enjoy being able to use by hands."

"Suit yourself." *

~!**!~

Youko flipped over onto his stomach as a few of the butterflies from the night before fluttered over. He held out a hand and one of them came to rest on his finger.

"So, what's the story?" He broke the silence abruptly, his legs bending at the knees, coming up to cross at the ankles in the air behind him.

Shikiyoku had by this time turned around, seated cross-legged, to face him, hands still diligently working at the chain of flowers which were fast turning into something that would be a necklace when she finished.

"Since we parted?" She wanted to know.

"Oh, I know most of that." He tapped a finger to his head. "Courtesy of Red. Changed forms, locked away your energy, tricked shorty into being your Champion, yadda yadda." He lowered his hand until the elbow rested on the grass, moving to place his cheek against his fist and holding his head up as he watched the butterfly open and close its wings slowly. "What's the story with the marks? I've only been able to make guesses of my own up to this point." 3

~!**!~

"How is it that it takes me four months to fine one stupid little artifact, but it takes you just a few hours to know where the next one is?" Akari grumbled as she glared at the large dog that dug at the ground, whose head lifted to look at her momentarily.

"I get around. Much the same as rumors do. Word travels fast on the Fourth Layer."

Akari scowled and looked away, arms crossed and vein in her temple protruding, although her bangs hid it well. "So you knew about the demon going around and casting enchantments?"

"Naturally. I was considering putting up a trading post that existed on every layer, to help with the difficulties in that prospect."

"You're a pain."

"Yes, but I am giving you the artifacts instead of taking them for myself. You should at least scratch my ear for that."

"You're being serious?"

"Naturally."

Akari sighed and meandered away. "I'll consider it. However, I thought our deal was payment enough."

"Just think about it. There's nothing so bad about giving a friend a good scratch."

Idiot. *

~!**!~

Shikiyoku refrained from 'correcting' his summary of events, dwelling instead on the question he asked.

"How about starting with how you and Hiei broke up? That's something Red doesn't even know."

It took a lot more restraint this time not to smack him for his wording. And it was partially the unrelenting glint of his eyes that stayed her hand. She refused to give him the satisfaction.

"We just happened to be returning from Demon World the exact moment all portals between it and Human World were shut down by Spirit World." Shikiyoku raised and lowered a single shoulder as if it were the simplest thing in the world and not something that had quite literally driven her to the brink of madness. "He was on one side and I was on the other."

"You didn't try to see if there was anyway to get back over to him?"

"I knew there wasn't any point in trying."

"And how exactly did you 'know?'"

Shikiyoku took a deep breath as she remembered the feeling, the exact moment, when it hit her that she had 'outgrown' the Kekkai Barrier. That she was almost certain Hiei would be able to return through and she could not.

"The Kekkai." She said shortly, images flashing in her mind of when her fears had been confirmed and her touch had caused the Kekkai to flare up in front of her just before the portals shut down.

"Ah." Youko intoned after a second of pause, knowing precisely what she meant to imply in just those two words.

"So, the distance severed the pact?" He prodded further.

She let out a sigh, "It's a long story."

"My ears are all yours." Youko shifted until he lay on his side, facing her and keeping his head propped up with his hand. He went on before Shikiyoku could collect her thoughts. "Along with anything else you might suddenly decide you want."

"Be still my heart." 3

~!**!~

"I wouldn't go too far, love."

Akari scoffed. "Why, because you want me to scratch you?" She continued moving on, hands in her jacket pockets and eyes on the building she knew to be empty. It was one she'd visited a few times over the past couple of months, but it hadn't… it hadn't been one of the buildings that was affected by whatever the demon wanted until now. "I think I'll take my chances," She added as she continued on, not even sparing a glance back. She circled to the far side of the building, eyeing the windowless walls and the untouched, undisturbed soil around it.

Odd how the demon who created the enchantments left little to no trace of themselves.

"Akari, I've got it. Ready when you are!"

Akari turned to go back the way she came, no longer interested in the area. She circled around again, eyes on the ground as she walked, merely because she was bored with the building. "So, what gave you the idea to hunt the demon do-" When she glanced up, Isamu was nowhere in sight, his hole where he'd been digging still there, but the dog not within the immediate area. "You're being an idiot."

She shifted her weight, turning about where she stood and expanding her energy, searching for the demon. "Come on, Isa. I wanna get this over with. I have places to be with that!"

Nothing.

I'm going to murder you, so help me.

She turned to walk away from the area, knowing she wasn't too far from town. She didn't bother using her energy, because she didn't feel like wasting it before she'd have to use it to get to Genkai's, and then Koenma. And that took a lot of energy to pull off.

Moving from layer to layer was one thing.

Moving from layer to Spiritual places… was a whole other thing entirely. And she hadn't exactly been saving her energy for anything; she hadn't expected for the search to end so soon.

Of course, technically, her search wasn't done, because the damn dog-

"Move, Akari!"

She blinked and took a quick step backwards, eyes widening on the blur of a being that left the ground in front of her again. She took two more steps back, eyes quickly looking up in the direction the thing had disappeared. "Where'd it go?"

"I've got it, don't worry!"

"Wait, I-"

and then there was silence in the air, and she was absolutely sure both demons were gone.

What the hell. *

~!**!~

"And you were just going to let her use you?" Youko seemed a little incredulous. "For her personal vendetta or whatever? To bring about Sekaijuu?"

"I didn't exactly have a lot of options at the time." Shikiyoku replied dryly, "There was no way I would be able to return to my Champion in the foreseeable future, and any of you would have been trying anything you could to get back to me."

"So, you deciding getting yourself killed was the better option?"

"I...my mind had already started unraveling at that point. I had no hope of ever seeing him again, and I would have rathered died to the pain demon's ritual than throwing myself to a bunch of flesh-hungry low-levels and letting them kill me in their way. Don't you think that would have been more cruel to my Champion?"

Youko didn't answer.

"Renai had other plans for me, though." Shikiyoku went on. "He revealed that demons like he or I could unlock a method of attack within our energy that would render the ancient pact spell unuseable and sever such a pact if one was in place, but the process is grueling and difficult." Shikiyoku had her mouth open to say something more about the 'process,' but she could find no words to describe how time had seemed to stretch on into infinity for her as she lay there under Renai's unfailing hand.

"You've never been a fighter." Youko noted airily.

"I'm not." She huffed with wry amusement.

"...then what's the secret?"

Shikiyoku's hands faltered on the necklace for just a moment before she answered.

"Pain." 3

~!**!~

Akari gave a sigh, knowing even if she yelled for Isamu, he wouldn't answer because, apparently, he's got this. She glanced at the ground where the demon hand landed, frowning at the spot of dead grass that outlined the single foot that hand landed there.

Backwards.

Oh great. They're not as rare as we used to think.

Akari turned and moved in the direction the two had gone, her nose following the trail of acid easily. Please don't be an idiot and get yourself killed. She growled to herself and pushed her feet to move faster. She turned inward to the odd 'bond' that had formed, and found she was moving a little faster than the male.

Before long, she was huffing and standing among the treeline of another clearing, where Isamu and the Aswang moved around and around, this one being much more capable than the one Akari had fought with Yusuke. She frowned as she mulled that thought over, her nose turning up as the smell of acid and sulfur filled the air more and more with each attack.

Akari moved to circle the creature from within the shadows, knowing that Isamu had its full attention.

That is, until Isamu himself glanced at her. She growled at him when the Aswang turned towards her, "Are you stupid?!"

"I told you I had it!"

Akari stumbled away from the acid that splattered on the ground a few inches from her feet, another snarl lifting her lips. "It wouldn't kill you to let someone lend you a hand, you know!"

"In this situation, it might!"

"oooh, fighting pack mates." the creature hissed, "so much better than simple energy."

Akari jumped away from the strike aimed at her stomach, which she tucked in as she threw her arms over her head. "I thought you guys were extinct," she growled.

Isamu appeared behind the creature, whose eyes turned to the corners and lips turned up in a wicked grin. She reacted just as the creature did, reaching out and grabbing at the aswang and pulling it towards herself, watching its claws elongate and just miss Isamu, who hadn't seen it coming. She stumbled and turned away, narrowly missing a strike herself. I hate close quarters. *

~!**!~

Youko let out a single bark of laughter.

"How exceedingly appropriate, seductress."

"Isn't it, though?"

"So, with the ability to fend off any would-be lovers, the pact was null."

She nodded. "I no longer needed the protection of a Champion and as such could not use the spell to even form another pact if I wanted."

"I wonder how shorty felt about that." Youko murmured to himself, speaking more to the avatar in his head who had been listening to the whole conversation with apt attention.

"Hm?" Shikiyoku hadn't heard him.

"And so, these markings..." Youko trailed off.

Shikiyoku picked up for him, "The catch is I cannot revert back to this form on my own."

"You defend yourself and then get stuck that way."

She nodded, "For a while it didn't matter. I didn't care. I was in pain form, free of any other ties, and I immediately sought employment in one of the guilds in a city."

"Back to the old work then?"

"Do what you know, right? My methods of torture this time were...much different, however."

"I would imagine so." 3

~!**!~

Akari stumbled again and isamu was reaching for her, though she didn't accept his offer and instead used her own stumbling to pull the Aswang away from Isamu, turning her person so that the creature fell past her. She slammed an elbow into the back of its head, ensuring it didn't twirl around on the spot, and then leapt away to let it fall to the ground.

"Are you stupid?" Akari repeated to Isamu as she continued jumping backwards, putting distance between herself and the creature, Isamu following her easily. "You don't approach an Aswang, you kill it from a distance! How could you, of all people, forget that?"

"I didn't forget, I chose to ignore it!"

"Well, then you're going to be the first to be struck and poisoned, because I'm not going to try it." Akari stood back, waving a hand at him and eyeing his swords. "I hope those are impervious to acid."

"I'm not sure. Guess we'll see." He replied as he moved away, running forward to meet the creature head on. Akari's energy continued to swirl around her, creating a dark cloud about her feet as she watched Isamu unsuccessfully land any blows.

She could leave him to it… except he was dumb enough to allow a blow to hit if he thought he could kill it shortly after. And she wouldn't put it past him. She sighed and turned, eyes going wide when she came face to face with a creature starkly similar to the other. "Hello, little one."

Akari growled and dropped from his reach, into a shadow and then appearing again in the clearing when she was clear of the attack. "Hello." Akari replied with a strike to its face, jerking its face to the side before it could spit anything at her. "I don't appreciate your games." She avoided the swipe of claws narrowly and struck again, sending a brief glance over her shoulder at Isamu, who she noted tossed a sword hilt away.

Idiot. She moved, leapt, growled and snarled as the creature recovered and continued to strike again, and again, and again, each time sneering at her and striking faster and faster. Where's the detective when he's useful?

She took one more step backwards and found herself backed against Isamu, who made a sound of surprise. "What are you doing?"

"Trying not to die. What are you doing?" She replied pleasantly before grabbing him and disappearing into a shadow, lingering in the dimension for a few minutes. "Why are we wasting our time?"

"Because I don't think you're away that you're missing something valuable." He pointed at her jacket and sighed. "We need a plan."

"Yes. Distance. Close combat will kill us."

"And what can a couple of shadow demons do?"

"You're doubting our abilities? tsk tsk." She closed her eyes. "Can we get another one of those elsewhere? I'd rather not have my skin and such stripped from my bones."

"We can try, but there's no guarantee."

"I hate you." Akari sighed. "Just… don't die, got me?"

Akari and Isamu landed on the ground of the first layer again, not surprised to see the creatures waiting where they'd disappeared. Which, amusingly, was several feet away from where they were now. Akari grinned and let her energy swirl at their feet, the shadows quickly roving over their bodies and bringing the dull eyes of both Aswangs up to her, Isamu no longer near her. "I have a proposition, if you're up to listen." *

~!**!~

"It was...amusing work to say the least. And by that I mean it amused my time if nothing else. The leader of the guild I sought out was the only one who knew who I had been, so it wasn't as if I had to worry about anyone trying to change me back. Years later a...a demon who had approached me and offered to be my mate while I was still bound to Hiei discovered my location and sought me out. He threatened to reveal my identity to the ruler of the nearby city unless I went with him."

"Who was that again...Rae, right? I remember Kit mentioning she was a pain in some of his correspondences with me."

"Hiei and I had a run in with her as well, within the past decade of time, and she very desperately wanted to know of my location."

"So she could try and control you."

She nodded.

Youko grinned, "Did you mate with him?"

"What?"

"The demon-"

"Kyonshi?" Shikiyoku provided.

"Yeah, sure. The one who wanted to take you as a mate. Were you mates?"

"You've changed the question."

Youko only awaited her response.

"What does it matter?"

"Call it a morbid curiosity."

Shikiyoku sighed, "He never forced me into anything."

"Masterful attempt at avoiding the question. But if you wanted to mate with him, it wouldn't be 'forcing.'"

"No, I have never had a mate, Youko Kurama." Shikiyoku said exasperatedly, "Feel better now?"

"Much."

"You're impossible."

"Much."3

~!**!~

"Proposition?"

Akari shifted her weight and planted a hand on her waist, her expression calm and colored only with a small, knowing smile. "Are you interested?"

"And what would the likes of you, earless, tailless dog, have to offer us?"

Akari's smile widened. "That's up to you." She shifted again and her energy around them tightened, making their eyes widen. "I have quite the influence, if I do say so myself. And if you don't believe, I know someone who could vouch on that."

"We need nothing you offer."

"You haven't heard my end of the deal yet. How could you know that?"

Isamu was standing behind the pair, calm eyes regarding her, his presence unnoticed thus far. Within a few seconds of silence, however, the two she addressed went still, their muscles no longer taut with preparation, but taut with weight. With control. Their skin darkened as shadows moved under their skin, resting below the surface before seeping into bones, into muscles. Isamu gave a brilliant smile. "I'd forgotten how easily you could distract someone."

"Actually, that's new."

"Is it? I hadn't noticed." He turned to the pair, his hands finding the pouch at a belt of the first, who made a strangled sound. "Thank you. I'll be sure to use this wisely."

"Now, I have what I want." Akari began, expression unreadable. "The thing is… you didn't take a deal beforehand. and I have nothing to offer you anymore, as what I needed is now within our possession. You're a little too slow, it seems."

"Mind if I do it, Akari?"

She raised a brow. "I'd planned on you doing it the whole time. However, I'd like to go home for a bit. May I?" She held a hand out for the pouch, which Isamu tossed in her direction. "I'll meet you at home, yes?"

"Which home?"

"Mine."

"Alright then."

Akari turned to leave, ignoring the strangled sounds from the demons who were stuck in place, accompanied with the sound of a blade being unsheathed. "You ruined my best sword." She heard the male's voice darken, but didn't remain to listen to anything else. She dropped through a shadow and reappeared at the house, her hands gathering the bricks and rocks on the coffee table before she dropped through a shadow again, this time landing at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to Genkai's place. *

~!**!~

Youko fell silent, conversing with the avatar within himself over the various bits of information they had just acquired, and Shikiyoku did not interrupt them at first, though she had no way of knowing the conversation was actually going on.

She finished the necklace and was shifting it about in her hands, not having quite reached the portion of the story that she...that she had intended all along to seek Youko's help about.

Her thoughts lingered on their discussion. On Renai teaching her the way of pain. Of Horu, the white-haired leader of the guild she worked for, and the many demons she left scarred for life once she finished extracting information from them. And at the last of Kyonshi, and how he had...activated the disease already inside of her so that she may be more like him, so that she could feed on demonic energy to sustain herself without the need of food or drink.

That disease had greatly affected the energy of her pain form. So much so that when Kyonshi finally turned on her, she had at her fingertips the capability to end his life whereas before she had only been able to inflict pain.

Those strands of her energy that had at one time brought demons together in tribal brother and sisterhood, bound their souls in a flamboyant ritual, now all she could think about was how the dark energy of those strands could now sever limbs and extinguish lives.

All while feeding the disease within her. 3

~!**!~

Akari stared up at the steps, giving a weary sigh. It'd taken her too long to take care of this. At least I'm not bringing a kid with me this time. Shifting her hold on the bricks, rocks, and the little pouch with the jewel she could feel pulsating energy inside, she took the first few steps and paused to glance over her shoulder again. She took another sigh and turned to continue her way up to the top of the steps, a small smile on her lips.

When she reached the top of the stairs, she looked down at the objects in her hands again, imagining the formation Isamu had formed on her coffee table earlier today. And where the holes had been. This one… she plucked one from her pile, had been at the northern position.

And with that, she began moving around and around the lands, spreading the relics out one by one. *

Kita stood solemnly staring at the tree in front of him, having decided this one was it.

He put his hands together and bowed to it.

"I am sorry, but you will make good firewood." He shifted his stance to get one foot in front of the other and pulled his hands up towards his face, settling into the balls of his feet for a second before making very precise, rather powerful punches into the trunk of the tree, making quick progress into the bark.

A few minutes passed before he was able to break through to the other side enough to send the tree toppling over, and it only took a few minutes longer than that for the branches to be stripped from it and the trunk, larger around than Kita's head in places, to be divided into logs, some of which were as long as he was tall.

He made note of the position of the debris, thinking that he'd have to let the smaller ones know there were branches to be gathered, and as he hoisted up one of the larger logs onto his shoulder, he paused before heading back, frowning as he felt someone drawing closer.

Without much thought to the log over his shoulder, he moved off with relative ease in the direction of the energy he felt, curious that it didn't feel particularly familiar-it was certainly none of the other students-but it didn't feel entirely unfamiliar either.

~!**!~

"Red would like to know what happens next." Youko pulled himself from his inner thoughts and turned his yellow eyes onto Shikiyoku, whom he noticed absently toying with her finished necklace.

"Oh, he would, would he?" She arched an eyebrow at him, lifting her head to meet his gaze. "Has he been listening in this whole time?"

"Always."

Shikiyoku chuckled and leaned forward, adorning the necklace over Youko's silver head where it hung from his neck as she took her hands away.

His eyes never left her, waiting.

"Kyonshi...died."

In a mirrored gesture to the one she had given him, a single silver eyebrow rose further up on Youko's face.

"Died?" He echoed after a moment, hoping to prompt her. "How?"

"I...killed him." 3

~!**!~

Akari paused and crouched where she stood, pulling a brick from her arms and looking it over before unceremoniously dumping her armful of similar objects onto the ground. She began to dig in the ground, creating a hole deep and wide enough to rest the brick inside, etchings-side up, and then cover it with the soil she'd disturbed.

She looked to her pile and gathered it again, turning her eyes up and pausing when she saw a few kids run by, a small smile on her features as she pushed herself to stand again. She had another brick in her hand, not paying much attention to the energies around her as she continued to the next place, doing the same in this spot and covering the brick with dirt. This time, when she looked up, she didn't move.

The energy was so pleasant here. It was completely different than how the rest of her day had been. *

It didn't take Kita long to make it back towards the differing energy signature, the trunk over his shoulder giving him little to no trouble.

When he caught sight of her, he easily slipped the log off his shoulder, solemn face brightening as he called her name and started running towards her.3

Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! -Star